1847

1847 Fairmont Collection Coins

The United States was expanding rapidly in the 1840s. The Mexican-American War, which began in 1846, continued into 1847. U.S. forces captured Mexico City in September, marking a major turning point in the conflict. The Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo, which ended the war and ceded a large portion of Mexico’s territory to the United States, was signed the next year in early 1848. California’s population and economy continued to grow in the late 1840s, partly due to the California Gold Rush, which had begun in 1848 but gained significant momentum in 1849.

1847 Fairmont Liberty Half Eagles

In 1847, the production of $5 Liberty Gold Half Eagles took place predominantly across the American South. All three of the new branch mints that had opened over the last decade contributed to coining in 1847, with Philadelphia still striking the majority of the coins at a mintage of 915,981 coins. However, the Charlotte Mint in North Carolina issued 84,151 coins with C mint marks, the Dahlonega Mint in Georgia struck 64,405 coins with a D mint mark, and the New Orleans Mint issued a further 12,000 coins with an O mint mark.